Toppy Star Pony Hire

Ponies for education and fun

Welcome to my "Blooming" great idea...my name is Kirsty Tudor, I'm thirty seven years old and live with my two "just" teenagers (yes sympathy required please) and a wee assortment of animals......just to keep me sane!! My two passions and areas of expertise are children and horses - making "Toppy Star Pony Hire" my dream business!!

I have worked with children in a variety of settings for twenty one years and was involved in the development of “Smart Cookies Childcare” a successful business in the village where I live. I am a qualified Nursery Nurse, registered childcare practitioner with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and have PVG registration. I have training in Child Protection and Health and Safety.

I have owned my own horses and ponies for twenty seven years - everything from Shetlands to Clydesdales!

I have an NC in Equine Studies awarded with merit and have completed The British Horse Society (BHS) Stage One certificates in Riding and Care. I hold a Riding and Road Safety certificate.

I work part time in a nursery with a contract until February 2014. By the time it ends I want to be running a successful business and be financially independent. I am not scared of hard work and want to be an inspiration and good role model to my children and others. For the last year I have been trying to get "Toppy Star Pony Hire" up and running. The only hurdle I face is lack of funds...I have energy, boundless enthusiasm, drive and all the relevant knowledge, qualifications and experience to make this business a fantastic success. I have ploughed every spare penny I have into it so far and sold various things that weren't essential but I am falling short and the bottom of my well is dry! As I am a single mum I need to work and am in a catch 22 situation - I would qualify for various grants if I was unemployed.

I started advertising the business as "coming soon" in the spring and have been overwhelmed by everyone's positive response. I am asked regularly to do work but I keep having to say no! very frustrating indeed!! I'm so close.........

What will Toppy Star Pony Hire offer?

"Toppy Star Pony Hire" will be a family run, rural business based in the beautiful tourist village of Falkland where I live. I am lucky enough to have a pony mad daughter (can't think who she gets it from!!) who will work with me at weekends and in holidays. My son will help with maintenance etc. We will offer the following services. These are mainly aimed at children but adults will benefit too.

Pony Parties (at child’s own homes within 1.5 hours travel from Falkland), Therapy Sessions, Own a pony sessions and Visits to Special Needs Centres, Nurseries and Schools (sessions will be developed to support The Curriculum for Excellence) After School Clubs, Brownies/Rainbows, Nursing Homes (allowing residence to take a trot down memory lane to the days when horses were involved in our daily lives) Hospices (making Dreams come true…it’s not every day a Unicorn visits you!) Playgroups, Open Days, School Fetes, Village Fetes, Charity/ fundraising events and Wedding Functions. Pony and cart rides will be added to services I offer soon.

TSPH will be run in an environmentally friendly manner and aims to be an organic business within three years. I aim to do a minimum of four free charity visits per year.

Local trades people will always be the preferred option for work that is required.As the business developed I’m sure so will more ideas!

I cannot find another business in Scotland that offers all these services making us unique.

My two "Star Ponies"

Topsy has been in my family for seven years and is an 11.2hh Welsh section A mare.

I bought Jack, a 9.2hh Shetland pony gelding in February of this year to join Topsy on her pony adventures!

It is Topsy's sweet and gentle nature that inspired this business idea...watching her with children is an amazing experience. She is so safe around little ones and has a natural understanding that she need to be careful. When I found Jack, not only very cute but with the same understanding I had to have him!!

Both ponies are continuously trained and worked with to ensure they are as safe as possible and are currently being schooled to pull carts. I am getting a loan of a wee exercise cart but would love to have my own, I have not added this into my target costings as I have only counted essentials to get me started so if we reach my target please don't stop promising...I have 101 ideas including a Cinderella cart, themed party outfits and providing waterproofs!!

Topsy lead a sponsored walk around Falkland dressed as a unicorn in aid of Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia. She is ridden by my cousin’s son who has Downs Syndrome. Topsy has encouraged him to be more confident and try saying new words while benefiting from the physical effects of riding.

The Benefits of Toppy Star Pony Hire

Establishing this business will

allow me to become self employed/ financially self sufficient in a business I feel passionate about

provide a variety of opportunities for people to be involved with ponies

offer parents an alternative activity to indoor play centres for parties and day trips

Kirsty Tudor Falkland, Scotland, United Kingdom20th October 09:44I took the ponies to meet some children today, they were groomed, dressed up and the kids all had a wee ride...what an amzing day... magical...... so what I want to do for forever!!!

Kirsty Tudor Falkland, Scotland, United Kingdom14th September 09:52Morning Folks, well Ive got lots of plans for the next few weeks to help spread the word about my project..... Ive had an enquirie from a nursery about visits to them .... cant wait to get started.xx

Kirsty Tudor Falkland, Scotland, United Kingdom6th September 05:01Well folks things are heating up...Ive been posting every where on Facebook about my Bloom page and Bloom in general and have been asked to do two pony parties, a school fayre and a town gala already..... wow I will be busy when things are up and running!!!!
Thank you to my promisers so far...sending you lots of virtual hugs and thanks xx

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